Major in Urban Studies

The Urban Studies program will be an intensive interdisciplinary BA that focuses on a close study of urban phenomena. Crucial to the program is a multifaceted understanding of the urban experience which includes history and theory; urban design and architecture; urban policy; arts and media (including communication and social media); social, political and economic forces; class, race and gender; and global conceptions of the urban.

Four Program Areas

Area A - Urban Sociology and Political Economy

Area B - Urban Histories, Theories and Methods

Area C - Urban Planning and the Built Environment

Area D - Urban Culture and Representation

The term “Program Areas,” suggests specific areas of research that students may choose in their senior year, and also future paths for graduate school or research. For example, students may wish to pursue careers in city planning, which relates to Area C (Urban Planning and the Built Environment), or they may be interested in careers in urban documentary film making, which relates to Area D (Urban Culture and Representation).

Program Learning Outcomes

General

Students will:

demonstrate a critical understanding of the histories, theories and methodologies related to the production of urban space

demonstrate a grasp of the political, economic, social and cultural forces that shape the urban experience locally and globally

demonstrate and express the importance of urban representations in the arts, literature and media, both locally and globally

acquire basic skills related to practices of city planning and urban public affairs

demonstrate a critical and interdisciplinary understanding of San Francisco’s urbanism

Apart from required reading material, students will produce written and oral assignments as specified in the syllabi of each of the classes which will rigorously assess the students’ fulfillment of this outcome.

Specific

By the end of this program, students will experience and understand the complexity of urban issues internationally, both in the developing and developed world. Students will be encouraged to enroll in study abroad programs with an urban studies focus. (If they are not able to travel abroad they can continue to take courses at USF.)

By the end of this program, students will take a capstone seminar on specific topics where they will demonstrate the ability to synthesize knowledge from the four core areas, and whose reading material and written work are designed to prepare students to research.

Practical

Fulfill a practicum requirement in which students engage directly with an urban aspect of the Bay Area that includes but is not exclusive to the history of the area, contested urban issues, the ideology underpinning design, urbanism and landscaping initiatives, the sociology and politics of city planning and urban design.

Double Dipping

Students will be allowed to use no more than two classes to count for both Urban Studies and another major or minor program. We will provide advisors of the program with a form to track courses majors are enrolled and to avoid double dipping.